The first sex doll ‘brothel’ in Paris has been given the green light to continue operating following calls for its closure.
Left-wing councillors and feminist groups had called on the Council of Paris to investigate closing or censuring Xdolls.
They argued it was a “degrading” place that should be classed as a brothel – which are illegal to own or operate in France.
But police visited the establishment, based in an anonymous-looking flat, and decided no laws were being broken.
Communist councillors Nicolas Bonnet Ouladj and Herve Begue expressed deep regret over the council’s decision.
"This establishment, with hyper-realistic humanoid dolls, is the latest invention to bring brothels back into the landscape," they said.
At Xdolls, customers are charged €89 (£78) to spend an hour alone with one of three silicone sex dolls in a private room.
They are only given the address after booking the session and paying for it online.
Owner Joachim Lousquy told Le Parisien newspaper that clients are mainly men, although they do sometime get couples.
He claimed the dolls, each worth several thousand euros, are sex toys and therefore not degrading to women.
